Star's Fault

Really, I Shouldn't Tease.....

I haven't made an altered book in a long time.  The practical side of me argues with the artist girl.  We talk to each other in snarky tones... "This is junk" says the practical Eileen.  "No one will want this when you die, and it will land in the trash." 

The artist girl replies, heart on her sleeve... "No, this is me all over these pages, and my son will cherish them forever.  When I am long gone, these books will reach through time and tell him about his mama's heart and soul."

I let them argue, and continue painting, cutting, gluing and writing, peacefully, passionately.  I can't help it, it's all inside me and must come out. 

I pray you are safe and well today, and that you take time to create art ~ Blessings.

Eileen

The Air Becomes Still Cooler ~

This morning, when I let the kitties out to play, I could smell the snow in the air. 

It's a beautiful day ~ Blessings,

Eileen

 

In My Dreams ~ On Etsy

Have you ever had one of those dreams that is just so real that, even once you're wide awake, the feelings and images stay in your mind and with you for hours later?   It's as though you were actually there, and could still see the sights, hear the sounds, and breathe again the smells of your slumbered adventure.

I frequently have these flying dreams.  I think they're supposed to have special meaning, as though my subconscious self is trying to tell me something, but mostly, they're just beautiful, and I am content to leave it at that. 

After one particularly vivid dream I knew I would have to capture it somehow, and, pen in hand began to write. 

"In my dreams I swiftly fly, to storied places far away.
Past tranquil waters, calm serene, thru shady forests, cool and green.
To flowered meadows scented sweet, and guarded mountains' tall retreat.
As fragile bird I take to flight, and touch the earth in slumbered sight.
And when the tide returns to shore, awaking brings me home once more."

Was this beautiful blue butterfly in the meadow?

Could I write more of what I saw on this tag and hide it in this little pocket?

Surely, this quiet stream was there too?

Or did I fly over the streets of long-ago Paris?

Sweet sheep following their shepherd, safe in his care, their field sheltered by tall mountains. 

Her face is soft, curious, the hint of a sweet smile.  She looks back to make sure nothing is missed.  I love the flowers in her hair. 

A feather is found along the way.

Her feet never touched the ground.

The air was filled with the scent of flowers. 

Past amusement parks by the shore. 

Until she was gliding over the ocean, blue water and sailboats below. 

A pearly sea shell was captured for display. 

Another, this time a tiny spiral. 

Now awake, the memory so vivid, so real. 

But a dream nonetheless. 

Later, in the art nest, I worked to sort out the tangled images in my mind, and so this little book was made.  It is richly embellished from cover to cover and waiting for you on Star's Fault Etsy. 

Star, of course, helped with the photography today, the dappled light under the Korean lilac bushes made her amber eyes glow, her soft fur a beautiful silver blue. 

Blessings ~

Eileen

 

Hooked on Garden Tags ~

Through the magic of Typepad, this post will arrive on my blog while I am far, far, away from my home, nestled in the lovely state of Virginia for the week.   Ah, the history.... the antiques.  There is just not enough room in my luggage to bring hardly anything back, so I know I will have to be content with window shopping. 

One can tell from my last several posts that I'm seriously hooked on these pretty labels and tags for my 2009 Garden Journal.  I mean, before I hopped on the plane for an exciting 12+ hour trip, I just wanted to sit at my computer every free hour and make pretty things on PhotoShop.  I love these ivory and clay colored tags with dark blue, sepia or black graphic images, all shapes and sizes, some with a lacy edge.  Be still my heart.....

But in deference to my back, I'm trying to keep my computer time to something resembling sanity.  I have a thing for technology. Obviously.  DH complains...

But I feel like I'm really ready for the riot of growing things this year.  Plus, it keeps me occupied productively until I can actually plant anything.  Seriously, no one dares put a single shrub, tree, hanging basket, veggie or flower start out until Memorial Day.  It's such a rule around here that, if anything does fail to thrive one need only say "I planted just before Memorial Day", and everyone will understand perfectly. 

You will, however, get those looks, and you just KNOW they are thinking to themselves...."she should've waited until after Memorial Day..."  Ack.  Here in Virginia it's a riot of green everywhere.  My last trip it was Cherry Blossom Festival.  This trip, its azaleas and rhododendrons.  So beautiful. 

Our Alaska growing season is short, but incredibly intense.  We have about 22 hours of daylight during the summer months.  I love this.  If only I could bottle up enough sunshine to last the winter months, you know?  When we wake up, which around here is 4:30 am, the sun is streaming into the bedroom.  When we go to bed, somewhere around 9:00 pm, the sun is streaming into the bedroom.  If I were to wake up at midnight, still sunny.  It's only about 2:00 am that it will turn to this lovely twilight, and then 60 minutes later, the sun is on its way back up...!

Last year, our new cherry tree made 12 cherries.  Not quite enough for pie.  And the baby apple tree, only about 5 tiny apples.  Our Mountain Ash made bunches of red berries, food for flocks of Cedar Waxwings that live here all winter.  I had dried herbs, and rose hips, and pressed flowers saved for winter. 

I made 7 more labels and tags, 6 printed, and one delicious scalloped oval, all printed on an archival quality creamy white cover stock.  I am totally infatuated with those scalloped edge trimmers, and so added a lacy edge to one tag.  Best of all, I have this stash of vintage velvet ribbon.  They just don't make velvet ribbon like they used to, and this is wide, rich, in a beautiful raspberry shade.  I cut a 6" chunk to use as an embellishment.  A shot of rich, yummy color.

I can't wait to get started.  I mean, how many journal entries can you make where you say... "waiting for Memorial Day..." before you burst?  Hmmm..... maybe a trip to the greenhouse soon?  I bet it smells heavenly in there, warm dirt, tiny green plants.  Oh yes, I'm there.  Well, metaphorically speaking, 'cuz actually, I'm in Virginia until Saturday.  

Blessings ~

Eileen

Little Radish ~

Well, I finally did it.  Opened an Etsy site and put a couple of things out there. Testing the waters, you know?  Hubby was TOTALLY surprised to see several lovely folks purchase items within a few hours. 

I confess... I was pretty surprised too!!

So I have more goodies to add to the site Saturday, including this Little Radish Garden Journal.  I love making Garden Journals, and the art nest is filled with beautiful garden themed papers and ephemera. 

Little Radish is the latest.  Three signatures with stitched and beaded binding, the little darling's creamy white pages are just waiting to be filled as your garden grows. 

There's old stuff, like this page from a friendship album, a note from Claire to her sweet friend Dapphie, written in 1879.  I just love the simple lines of prose, 130 years old.  Amazing.

Bits of old calico, and a vintage button adorn a page.  A trellised edging peeking out from the pages behind. Love those Martha Stewart edge punches.  Expensive, but I save my 40% off coupons just for this kind of stuff.

Aha, the trellised edge is a tiny signature nested within.  Recycled paper, an old ledger sheet, paper doily and a ivory tag, bound together with fat zig zag stitching. 

This is one of my favorite pages.  The little pocket is perfect for sprigs of dried herbs, and a bit of tulle and ribbon, along with a scalloped label, are tucked inside just waiting for a branch of fragrant mint or thyme. 

A packet of seeds on the back cover, just waiting to grow into crispy lettuce.  I don't have a veggie garden, but I grow lettuce and herbs in great pots around the house.  You've just got to keep them safe from the moose that roam around here!

Little Radish will be on Etsy tomorrow, along with several other Garden Journals. 

My own Garden Journal, posted about here, is pretty empty so far.  I've been saving for seeds and plant starts, and the snow is finally gone, but nothing is green yet.  No forsythia, no tree buds, no green grass... yet.  Gardeners here are firm about no planting anything until after Memorial Day.  

No worry, there's always plenty of raking and pruning and planning to keep me busy until then!

Eileen

Two, no, Three, um, Four Projects at Once ~

I'd mentioned earlier that I'd cleaned the art nest this weekend.  I mean, I REALLY cleaned.  Like, on my hands and knees I cleaned. 

I'm a pretty organized person, already, you know.  Everything lined up neatly.  Order reigns, and I'm happy.  Funny to hear an artist say that?

 

Artists are usually pretty messy, and this is acceptable - expected even, because it's all about free association, right?  Let it flow.  Well, now I was OVER flowing. 

Hmmm....

Okay, let's just call it like it is... I was all over the place.  It was a mess.  Even the cats were getting nervous.

For those of you that have followed the Where Women Create series, you've seen these incredible studios filled to the brim with wonderful stuff, artfully displayed.  I've got the stuff.  I've got the space.  But my stuff + space NEVER looks quite like that. 

I think their stuff + space probably gets crazy too.  They're just not telling. 

So I took two days and edited, and organized, and labeled stuff in lovely boxes that I'd been saving for a while.  And I made a yummy linen (eesh, linen again?) ruffled cover for my art table.  Oh, its pretty, even slightly decadent. 

Then I finished my thank you's to the commentors of the Lucky Me post.   

I thought I'd had them all finished Saturday. 

And then I would stumble on something pretty discovered in my organizing and I would think "oh, I have to add that!"

So they were done Sunday, just before I found the little paper flowers.  Well, I've gotta use those, right?  'Cuz they go perfectly.

A really pretty white pen, lost a month ago, was found under the big wall cabinet.  I felt very Pam Garrison-ish making curliques.... but then they were done.  One more... whatever, and they would be too much.  One less.... and something would be missing.  I never know when I'll hit that balance.  I only hope that when I do, I'll know it and stop before I screw it up. 

Because I've got other wonderful projects waiting to complete!

I'm almost done with a brand new Spring-themed banner.  I had to make two, so (greedy me) I could have one also. The other is for a very special swap partner. 

Following closely on the heels of the banner is a May Day basket!  I haven't made a May basket since I was a little girl and I'm so anxious to get this one, maybe two, okay at least 4, finished, also for a swap partner.  I am loving swaps. 

So... art nest cleaned, post to follow Saturday-ish - check.
Thank You's done and mailed out - check.
Banners next, posting Monday-ish - check.
May Basket follows - posting Wednesday ish - check.

Eileen

 

Sure Signs of Spring ~

Normally, a post titled "Sure Signs of Spring" might feature lovely photos of new green grass, fluffy clouds, daffodils and apple blossoms, new lambs and baby chicks. 

But around here, we've got none of that.  Here, Spring is also called "Breakup".  It's mainly brown. 

We do have the fluffy clouds, though.  On the way back from the barn last night, I commented to my hubby how pretty the sky was and how different it looked.  He said "That's because it's a Spring sky. Winter is over." 

Ah.  I have survived another long winter.  But It's hard to tell right now that Spring has really arrived.  The streets are all muddy, my car is brown, there's a volcano blowing its stack a few miles from here (really, click here to see), and the weather is doing crazy things.

But the snow is almost gone, melting at an ever increasing rate, revealing (ugh) brown grass, dead leaves, road sand, and... ahem, "treasures" from pet owners that do not pick up after their beloved Fido. 

The flocks and flocks of Canadian Geese will appear in a week or two. 

However, the MOST obvious sign that Spring is here is the arrival of Peeps in the grocery stores.  I like Peeps.  Actually, I have this little Peeps isuse and can't seem to stop ... unfortunately.  Hubby gave me that look when I put Peeps in the grocery cart this week.  Now admit it, you like Peeps too.   

Hmmm, the Peeps were here. 

Oh, what's this?

This is my new garden book for 2009.  I really like how its coming along, and I'm getting excited about the garden again.  Be watching for photos of the inside pages this weekend. 

Blessings ~

Eileen

One Day We'll All Have Perfect Wings ~

 

Today I wanted to show you something I made a while ago, and tell you why I made it.  I should probably explain.  There are no wings in this post. 

  

But at the time I began making this book, there were questions about why the wings we do have are sometimes so broken.

Why we are utterly unable to fly as the storm swirls around us. 

 

Fragile.  Scuffed.  Torn.  Wounded to the core. 

 

 

 

In the sweet calm that often comes just after, we look around, bruised.  Can we become more beautiful because of the storm?

 

 

Four years ago this week, my father passed away.  Lung cancer. 

 

At the same time, my husband was deathly ill in the hospital too.  It was touch and go.

 

 

 

My son was going through a very traumatic time also.  Depression, fears for his safety.  Life is very, very messy.

 

My wings were broken already.  But then I got hurt too. 

 

I'd herniated two disks, bone on bone, waves of pain that I couldn't escape from.  I needed surgery immediately.  Not now, there's just too much happening.

 

"Oh Lord, you are my God.  I will exault You."

 

"I will praise Your Name, for you have done wonderful things...."

 

"...a strength to the needy in his distress.  A refuge from the storm." Isaiah 25

   

By the time this book was finished, Tim was well again, Sam was whole, Papa had said his goodbyes and was with Jesus, and I was recovering from surgery to repair my poor neck.  I had survived this storm, but I understood...

 

I needed broken wings here on earth, because that is what makes us real, and when we are real, we can offer comfort and encouragement with sincerity, we pray with more heart, our touch has more love.

 

Our life has more meaning.   

Be of comfort to someone today.  Help to heal their fears and wounds.  Love unconditionally, pray without ceasing. 

Eileen

 

 

Sweethearts ~

Each year at Valentine's Day I consider carefully what token of love to give to my sweetheart.   After 38 years of togetherness, this is sometimes more complex than one would expect. 

 

You can bet he's pondering the same question, because he wants it to be perfect too.  This makes me smile.... and touches my heart.   

 

You will find him, like so many husbands, standing worriedly in front of the card display at the grocery store Friday night after work, carefully picking through the last few cards for that special one. 

 

And he will find it, as he always does, and, with all his heart, write something dear inside, something worth remembering, something he's said so many times before. 

Something, even after 38 years, I never get tired of hearing. 

Eileen

Tatted Love ~

When I was a little girl, I would watch my Grandma spend hours tatting delcate swirls and loops of lace, the shuttle moving and bobbing hypnotically in her hands.  It took a lot of time and patience to complete even a small project, but Grandma didn't have TV, and her babies were all grown, so I guess she probably had a bit of time to while away. 

It was this memory of Grandma that called to me when I brought home this precious little baby hat from a local flea market.  I loved my Grandma, she was all soft and sweet and she was willing to spend endless hours with the very inquisitive little red-headed girl that I was back then.

I figured that some loving Grandma made this tiny cap for a new grandbaby long ago, tatting that must have gone on forever, then pleating the little ruffle of pink ribbon along the edges, ribbon tassels at the sides.  I couldn't bear to leave it all alone in the pile of doillies and lace trims. 

A friend commissioned a handmade baby book after the birth of her second child.  This cap would be perfect on the cover, but because it was so special, I did not want to glue it down or damage it in any way, so sewed vintage buttons through the cap into the woven cover of the book.  A quick snip of the button thread would release the cap... good as new. 

 

I loved this project, but it took me a long time, since my baby - now grown - was a rough and rowdy boy, all tadpoles and puppy dogs and muddy boots.  Each page in this album is filled with bits of baby girly pink, special verse and writings by the mother, timeless memories of those first moments, later pictures of a little girl in a pink tutu. 

And it was so nice to remember my precious Grandma today. 

Eileen

A Glass Half Full ~ Part 4 of 4

In this last post about A Glass Half Full, you will find that I was figuring out how to do this a bit more, and my pages became a little more complex, interactive. 

The pocket on the left of the next page was covered with a sheet from an old science book.  The particular chapter I'd grabbed was one that talked about "Modulus of Resilience" and stated "....modulus of elasticity is capable of storing a large amount of elastic energy, or of absorbing a large amount of shock without being damaged thereby."

On the right page the title of the next chapter was called "Crucibles" and I circled it with a bit of charcoal pencil.  It fit. 

"I want to be thoroughly used up when I die.  Life is no brief candle to me; it is a sort of splendid torch which I get a hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations." George Bernard Shaw

"Choose not a friend from outward show.  The feather floats, the pearl lies low." Dena R. Viasley 1888, from an old autograph album. 

On the following pages, I didn't use a quote, but circled the next chapter's heading "Adaptive Capacity is the Key."  I used a 3" hole punch and aligned it with the larger circular logo from an old brewery. 

 

An old photo of sweet kids, a circular tag and the fly leaf out of an old book. 

 

You can barely read the old script on this page from another autograph album.

"We may write our names in albums, we may trace them on the sand, we may chisel them in marble, with a fine and steady hand.  But the pages soon are sullied, soon each name will fade away, soon each monument will crumble, and like earthly goods, decay.  But dear Nellie, there's an album, full of leaves of snowy white, where no name is ever tarnished, but forever shining bright.  In that Book of Life "God's Album", may your name be penned with care, and may all who here have written, write their names forever there."  Your Friend, Marion Shaw, Fryeburg, VA, 1886

I like the black and white pictures on the next few pages.  In the center of this section, I glued an old record cover and a bit of wallpaper. 

"When you get in a tight place and everything goes against you, 'till it seems as though you cannot hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn"  Harriet Beecher Stowe. 

She spoke from experience. 

I really enjoyed this accordion effect.  An old file folder was cut and folded every 1.5 inches.  Glued to one side, a piece of ribbon looped around two large brads, held the accordion shut most of the time.  Once opened, the folds of the section each held several short quotes.

• When asked, always express enthusiasm for your job, your marriage, your future.
• Never ask "why me" when bad things happen, unless you also ask "why me" when good things happen.
• Remember when it really comes down to it, few things are worth getting upset about.
• I've learned that when a woman decides she wants something, never underestimate her ability to get it.
• I've learned that a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
• Create and maintain a peaceful home.
• Remember that things usually look better after a night's sleep.
• I've learned that the best advise anyone can give is, "be kind".
• Pray. There is immeasurable power in it. 

A simple pocket on the left with a steel button and an old piece of string, and an inserted page on the right.

 

"I love the man that can gain strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection.  'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death." Thomas Paine

I love the serenity of this lovely face. 

"Never blame fortune - there are too many complicated situations in life.  But I am absolutely merciless toward lack of effort."  F. Scott Fitzgerald

I humbly agree. 

Another old album page, a few pieces of a crumbling calling card, bits of paper and fabric.

"Dear Clemmie:  Don't worry about the opinions of others, but live so that you can always respect yourself.  Your room-mate and sincere friend ~ Weltha Lee Breton, St.Mary's Kansas 1901."

...and finally, in my own hand, a reminder that I have been gifted with a resilient spirit and that I will always view the glass as half full.

Blessings ~

Eileen

Glass Half Full ~ Part 3 of 4

 

"Don't be quick to criticize.  Remember that everyone has bad days."

"Beautiful thou art, but the blush will fade.  The light grow dim which bright eyes wear.  The gloss will vanish from curl and braid, and the sunbeam die in the waving hair.  Then turn from the mirror and strive to gain, treasures of loveliness still to last.  Gather earth's glories and bloom within, that the soul may be bright when the youth is past. "  January 30, 1879, your friend William Daily

Isn't it amazing the way the Victorians wrote and talked?  The sentiment on the old friendship album on the right page is really very special.  I am amazed at the writing, and that it was written by a gentleman even more so. 

 

A crumbly fly leaf from an old book, a tracing of my closed hand, old gold braid trim and a rusty safety pin, a tag and floral clip art simply embellish the page. 

 

In this next page, I liked that the writing on the page itself said "racing to the middle..." so I clipped the letters g.o. from an old bingo card. 

 

"Never put into writing something that you wouldn't want someone to read."

Ever read one of those emails that you wish the author had considered a bit more before hitting the "send" button?  I think about the words I speak also, always conscious that what I say to others should be considered too. 

 

"Protect your enthusiasm from the negativity of others."

We all have people in our lives that have the power to suck the happiness right out of a room, but I've learned that a soft response to negativity either encourages the person who is truly struggling, or send the chronically crabby person along their way to find another to commiserate with...  I could add to this page the bible verse "A soft answer turneth away wrath"

Another pop up page with a clip of a pouty little girl.  On the right of the page is a small card clipped to the side. 

 

 

I'm warming to the pop up, moving parts on pages.  At this point, and since most of this work was done in class, I wasn't doing much as far as applying paint or texture to each page.  Like any good kindergartner, I was all about cutting and pasting. 

 

A big stamp of a Gothic arch, flanked by a stamp of an ornate keyhole made the center pop up. A beautiful clip of violets and lilies of the valley hung off the left edge of the fold.  Tear sheets from a magazine published in the late 1800's featured an article on George Washington's birthday, and so his quote was included on the left page.

 

"I hope I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider to be the most envious of all titles: the character of an honest man." George Washington

Beth introduced another technique new to me: image transfer, and so the tags on this next page were both transferred images, making them a bit more shabby then they were originally.  I liked that.

This page of the original book ws the beginning of a new chapter, titled "Allow Yourself to be Gracefully Wrong"  I added tiny letters, covered with a layer of a crystal medium to make each letter shiny and raised, "I'm Sorry" and "Please forgive me", writing in my messy script "be vulnerable" at the right margin. 

 

"Learn to be comfortable with problems; that's where personal growth and opportunity lies."

 

On this page, five pockets were made, connected together and glued to the left and right pages, and another pocket on the right middle page.  An old calling card in perfect script was glue into the center fold, old buttons and vintage silk ribbons added further texture. 

 

The pockets were each over-stamped with a text image...and because I love black and white, a black rosette clip art was added for a bit of drama. 

"I've learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed." Booker T. Washington

 

Pockets held tags and more quotes, encouragement to pay close attention to my moral compass, to be authentic, to be kind. 

"Offer hope.  Be faithful. Look for the good in people."

 

Eileen

 

 

Glass Half Full ~ Part 2 of 4

Over the next few days I'll post all the pages on A Glass Half Full.  There will be a photo of each page, followed by the quote on the page, and then a bit about the page elements.  I sure hope you like it ~ it was a humble effort, and my current books are much different, less formula, more handmade.

But this first one was way fun....

  

"The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Aged blue scrapbook paper on the left fly, with an old garden advertisement scrap on the right fly leaf.  Strips of newsprint carry the page's message. 

 

"Try not to become a man (woman) of success, but rather try to become a man of value."  Albert Einstein

Multiple folds become shallow pockets, a key, Victorian calling card and letterhead from an old railroad company decorate the page.  A postcard from 1912, and a playing card from Blue Star Potato Chips display the page's narrative.

"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about."  Charles Kingsley

On May 9, 1901 a gentleman named W. A. Hoffman signed in the most elegant script, a page in a tiny friendship album.

 

"Remember that the quality of your work is a snapshot of your character." Anon

Beth Cote taught us how to make pop-ups on our pages.  I had a lot of clips of roses with me that day, and sanded them a bit before I added them to this page, further distressed by white paint.  The title of the original book, just to the right of the lady, was called "Geeks and Geezers."

 

"Never forget three powerful resources you always have available to you; love, prayer, and forgiveness."  Anon

More roses, and a scrap of old wallpaper, strips of brown packaging paper edge the page and hold the quote.  I noticed that when I took the photo that one strip had slipped down - some glues don't hold forever.

 

"Even on casual Fridays, don't be too casual." Anon

The admonishment to respect yourself and your employer overlays an old algorithm table, along with a tiny sticker of a pink rose.  Love pink roses. 

 

"I've learned that a strong code of ethics is as reliable as a compass." Anon

More old wallpaper, scrapbook paper with a hard graphics edge, rivets and brads, a couple clips from magazines, an irregular edged pocket on the right held a tiny hinged booklet, repurposed to hold another quote:

"Do not consider anything for your interest which makes you break your word, quiet your modesty, or incline you to any practice which will not bear the light or look the world in the face."  Marcus Aurelius

 

Eileen

A Glass Half Full ~ Part 1 of 4

 

Three quotes have been lifelong favorites, guidance through storms, when the path forward seems too steep,too dark, they brought me courage when I was afraid.  

"Within me lies the power to seize the hour and live my dreams" (anon).  This quote, discovered as a young girl, helped me to understand that anything could be possible.  In later years, when I was working hard to get ahead, I would tell myself, "I believe I can accomplish anything I put my mind to."  Later I would learn that my own efforts, though a starting place, required a more powerful foundation, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26.

 

A Glass Half Full is about encouragement. 

I was fascinated that year with Altered Books.  Two days in a Beth Cote class and I was hooked.  Two weeks later I'd completed my first effort.  It was different than the other ladies in the class.  They seemed content to make something completely unrelated on each page, no connection from one to another, each canvas was its own project ~ beautiful, but disjointed.  It didn't make sense to me.

 

... and they all used wild colors.  Too bright, over embellished, too, too much to take in. 

I wanted my "readers" to be captured by the book's contents, sucked in to it's message, to explore every nook and cranny, open each fold carefully, devour the eye candy as they wove their way through the "story".

 

Each page is altered wth care, and quotes were selected to encourage, to strengthen, to marry with the crusty bits, soft colors and textures within. 

Come explore with me ~ we'll open the cover next. 

 

Eileen